Harwich Select Board Set to Vote on Land Transfer for Affordable Housing; Boards Tackle Variances, Contracts, and Charter Drafting
Harwich's Select Board was scheduled this week to vote on conveying a 2-acre town-owned parcel off Pleasant Lake Avenue to the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust Fund, alongside several infrastructure contracts totaling more than $950,000. Because meeting minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions below, the items reflect what was on each agenda, not confirmed outcomes.
Select Board: Land, Contracts, and Candidate Interviews
The July 27 Select Board agenda included a vote to convey Assessor's Parcel 82-R5, a 2-acre parcel off Pleasant Lake Avenue, to the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust Fund for affordable housing.
Also on the agenda: a $489,693 contract with Robert B. Our, Inc. for catch basin replacement and drainage infrastructure installation; a $284,161.80 contract with Styker Sales, LLC for Fire Department EKG replacement; a $185,300 contract with Environmental Design & Research for SCADA programming services for Phase 3 Sewer Design; and a lease of Cranberry Golf Course turf equipment from TD Equipment Finance at 4.23% over 60 months.
On July 24, the Select Board was scheduled to interview five candidates for four committees: Peter McAvoy and Doug Gorham for the Waterways Committee, Ryann Zabielski for the Recreation & Youth Commission, and Nichole Miranda and Mark Coleman for the Board of Health.
A July 30 Select Board meeting was set to include a joint session with the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners.
Board of Health: Septic Variance and Permits
The Board of Health agenda for July 21 listed a variance vote for a septic system at 93 Bank Street. The request sought a 5.7-foot variance from the 10-foot required setback for the septic tank (4.3 feet proposed) and a 3-foot variance from the 20-foot required setback for the soil absorption area (17 feet proposed).
The board also planned to reconsider previously approved conditions for increased habitable space at 8 Essex Place, and to vote on new permits including the Cape Verdean Festival (Tiffany Mendes, 1 Oak St), Bramble Cottage Kitchen (Kelli Schofield, 100 Oak St), Hen House Bakery farm stand (248 Main St), and a farmers market permit for Sea Side Soda Co. (Rich Eaton, 204 Sisson Rd).
Planning Board: Landscaping Supply Yard Hearing
The Planning Board's July 28 agenda included a continued public hearing (PB2026-06) for a 38,403-square-foot outdoor commercial wholesale landscaping supply yard at 246 Queen Anne Road in the Industrial Limited Zoning District.
The board also planned to vote on accepting a $150,000 performance insurance bond for Bentley Road utilities and road completion, and on a full covenant release for Lot 5 of the Bentley Road Subdivision.
Zoning Board of Appeals: Four Cases
The Zoning Board of Appeals scheduled a July 29 public hearing on four cases: a partial second-story addition with dormers at 132 Gilbert Ln (Case 2026-16, RL District); relocation of an exterior stairway at 14 Wah Wah Taysee Rd (Case 2026-17, RH-1 District); pool construction at 17 Pleasant Rd (Case 2026-18, RH-1 District); and an appeal of a building permit denial to raze and replace a home at 31 Lincoln Village Rd (Case 2026-19, CV & RH-1 Districts).
Charter Commission: Drafting Continues
The Charter Commission met July 23 and July 30 to continue drafting charter language. The July 23 agenda focused on Section 9-1-4 regarding the Finance Committee, with possible votes. The July 30 agenda included possible wording for section 10-1-2 and discussion of elements of section C7.
Other Boards and Committees
- **Energy and Climate Action Committee (July 20):** Scheduled to review the newly approved town Comprehensive Plan and receive an update from the town administrator.
- **Golf Committee (July 21):** Discussed the driving range, a Super Junior Day proposal, and a request for Community Preservation Act (CPC) funds for golf.
- **Council on Aging (July 22):** Reviewed needs assessment recommendations and a director's report on operations and volunteer needs.
- **Water/Wastewater Commissioners (July 28):** Considered a generator contract for Station 8, a feasibility study for the Weston & Sampson building, and a public outreach letter to Route 28 abutters.
- **Housing Authority (July 28):** Reviewed a financial report for the quarter ending June 30, 2026, and warrants 2026.5 and 2026.6.
- **Recreation & Youth Commission (July 28):** Discussed a splash pad update, the Bob Brackett futsal proposal, Brooks Park backstop and security, and a senior softball request.
Coming Up
- **Aug. 5 — Community Center Facilities Committee:** Discussion of the community center animal policy, code of conduct, patio concrete slab status, and sticker sales updates.
- **Aug. 5 — Conservation Commission:** Review of demolition requests at 202 Route 28 (Harwich Conservation Trust) and 108 Route 28 (JSLW, LLC), residential dock and seawall improvements at 4 Mill Point Road, a potential kayak ramp at Bells Neck Conservation Area, and Cape Cod Commission draft coastal resilience regulations.
Note: All recent meetings listed above were agenda-only; minutes had not been published as of this roundup. Outcomes, vote tallies, and any changes to the items described will be confirmed when minutes become available.